Christian Becker
- Birth: ~1813 / Germany
- Death: Unknown
- Age: Unknown
- Married: Yes, Catharina?
- Children: 3
- Profession: Unknown
Our Oldest Ancestor?
In the process of our family research, we discovered Christian
Becker, who we believe is the father of Thomas Becker and Grandfather to Charles
Louis Becker. We know that the name Christian Becker was a common name for the
time, but we believe that this Christian is part of our Becker family line. We
believe this based on the following conclusions and assumptions:
- According to the 1850 and 1860 U.S. Census documentation, Christian and his wife, Catharine, had three sons: Christian, Thomas and Ferdinand.
- Based on his son Thomas’ age, it matches the same year as Thomas Becker below.
- Finally, the Census Documentation is for the 7th Ward of Chicago, which is considered “South Chicago” and according to google maps is near the Rainbow Beach Park area.
Again, these are all very big assumptions based on minimal
documentation found. At this time there is no way to confirm that Christian is
actually part of our Becker family line. This is simply an assumption and
should be left open to interpretation at this time.
The First to Immigrate
Christian was likely the oldest ancestor on record to immigrate to the United States. We believe this immigration took place sometime in the early 1840's, due to information gathered from the 1900 Census about his son (Thomas). Christian would have immigrated with his wife and young family at the time, and it is likely that the family was part of the largest German Immigration to America, during the years of
1840 to 1880, which preceded the‘Revolutions of 1848 in the German states’. According to Wikipedia, “The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, also called the March Revolution (Märzrevolution), were part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many countries of Europe and a series of loosely coordinated protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation, including the Austrian Empire. The revolutions, which stressed pan-Germanism, emphasised popular discontent with the traditional, largely autocratic political structure of the thirty-nine independent states of the Confederation that inherited the German territory of the former Holy RomanEmpire. Furthermore, they demonstrated the popular desire for increased political freedom, liberal state policies, democracy, nationalism, and freedom from censorship. The middle class elements were committed to liberal principles while the working class sought radical improvements to their working and living conditions. However, the middle class and working class components of the Revolution split, and in the end the conservative aristocracy defeated it, forcing many liberals into exile, where they became known as Forty-Eighters.”
1840 to 1880, which preceded the‘Revolutions of 1848 in the German states’. According to Wikipedia, “The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, also called the March Revolution (Märzrevolution), were part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many countries of Europe and a series of loosely coordinated protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation, including the Austrian Empire. The revolutions, which stressed pan-Germanism, emphasised popular discontent with the traditional, largely autocratic political structure of the thirty-nine independent states of the Confederation that inherited the German territory of the former Holy RomanEmpire. Furthermore, they demonstrated the popular desire for increased political freedom, liberal state policies, democracy, nationalism, and freedom from censorship. The middle class elements were committed to liberal principles while the working class sought radical improvements to their working and living conditions. However, the middle class and working class components of the Revolution split, and in the end the conservative aristocracy defeated it, forcing many liberals into exile, where they became known as Forty-Eighters.”